20070503 News Clips

News Clips

May 3^rd, 2007

State News

GOP sees its future in assembly stalwarts

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20070502-111143-4205r.htm

State Republicans say Delegate Anthony J. O'Donnell and Sen. David R. Brinkley emerged as stalwarts in the 2007 General Assembly and as the party's rising stars. However, any hopes they might have about running for higher office in 2010 are on hold until former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and former Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele decide their political futures.

Mr. O'Donnell and Mr. Brinkley would be natural picks to run for governor in 2010, House Minority Whip Allan H. Kittleman, Howard Republican, said this week, but "you have to think [Mr. Ehrlich and Mr. Steele] are the first two you look at."

"I thought they did terrific jobs, and I am fans of both," said Mr. Ehrlich, among the first to praise Mr. O'Donnell and Mr. Brinkley. "But the problem is without the executive branch, without the votes, they have limited ability to impact the debate."

Mr. O'Donnell and Mr. Brinkley are looking to 2010 to rebuild the party's ranks in the legislature.

"We have to be principled, and if we go down the path of 'go along to get along,' there's no use in even being there," Mr. O'Donnell said. "You can't fight every battle either."

Myers says leadership didn't take deficit seriously

http://www.wcbcradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7266&Itemid=35

Delegate Leroy Myers said it appears as though the leadership in Annapolis didn’t take the projected $1.6 billion structural deficit facing the state seriously enough- and that is why a special session will have to be held this fall. Even tough state fiscal analysts outlined the potential deficit prior to the start of the ’07 session of the Maryland General Assembly, there were no new revenue streams created, and no tax hikes approved. Myers said that the gap could have been improved dramatically with a slow down in spending, however those efforts were rejected

Felon's lucky streak ends in federal court

After series of breaks from Md. judges, offender gets 20 years

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/crime/bal-md.exile03may03,0,4723359.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Maurice Mouzon lived a life of second chances.

For more than a dozen years, judge after state judge either set aside criminal charges against him or threw them out altogether. Attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, drug dealing - gone, gone, gone, gone.

On the rare days when Mouzon was convicted of a crime in Baltimore, most of his jail time was suspended. An eight-year prison sentence turned into three years. In one case, a 12-year prison term was boiled down to three days behind bars.

Mouzon's legal luck ended yesterday in U.S. District Court when he received his first lengthy prison sentence - more than 20 years behind bars - on federal drug and gun-possession charges. This time, there will be no suspension of prison time and no hope of parole because it doesn't exist in the federal system.

Former state worker is accused of fraud

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.fraud03may03,0,7398648.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

A former state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene employee and her husband have been accused of bilking the state Kidney Disease Program out of more than $1.7 million over the past several years, according to court papers.

Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has filed suit against Donna M. Lam, a former Health Department employee, and her husband, Wilson A. Lam, of Dundalk in an alleged illegal billing scheme. In court papers, Gansler accuses the Lams of submitting fraudulent claims on behalf of fake service providers.

DNR names, Social Security numbers are missing

Thumb drive with personal information on 1,400 employees presumably lost

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-dnrstory0503,0,5558174.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

A thumb drive containing the names and Social Security numbers of about 1,400 past and present employees of the state Department of Natural Resources is missing and presumed lost.

The miniature computer storage device, used by an employee of the agency's Information Technology unit to take work home with him, was reported missing about a week ago, said Eric Schwaab, DNR deputy secretary.

Those whose information was lost -- primarily law enforcement officers -- were told of the security breach by telephone and were given written updates, Schwaab said.

Nonprofits lose, taxpayers win in county budget

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/05_02-48/GOV

Depending on whom you ask, this year's county budget is a milestone to celebrate or to mourn.

For some of the nearly 50 nonprofits that relied on $3.17 million slashed from the county's grant program, yesterday's announcement forced difficult decisions about how - and whether - to continue.

Others thought it could have been worse.

For those who worried the county faced up to $200 million in new expenses that now have mostly evaporated, the $1.2 billion budget complete with a lower property tax rate came as great news.

"I think when we look back six or eight months ago, we all thought this was going to be a kind of perfect storm," Council Chairman Ron Dillion, R-Pasadena said. "The worst fears were we were going to have multiple, deep cuts across the board."

Leopold seeks to protect wetland

Arundel executive, developer make deal: $6 million for 30 acres

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/bal-md.ar.wetlands03may03,0,4854646.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold struck a deal yesterday to have the county buy 30 acres that abut a wetlands sanctuary for $6.1 million from a developer that planned to use it for a shopping center.

Leopold said he will submit a supplemental budget request next week to the County Council to acquire the forested parcel in Lothian, across Route 4 from 1,400 acres of wetlands, forests, meadows and fields along the Patuxent River known as the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary and the Glendening Nature Preserve at Jug Bay in the southwestern part of the county.

Energetic campaign ousted incumbents

3 newcomers won in Sykesville council race

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/carroll/bal-md.ca.sykesville03may03,0,1558238.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

The vigorous crusade by three newcomers who put up numerous signs and went door to door in the 4,500-resident town in South Carroll helped them oust three incumbents who ran a lackluster campaign for seats on Sykesville's Town Council, Mayor Jonathan Herman said yesterday.

Pharmaceutical representative Frank Robert, accountant Scott D. Sanzone and attorney and real estate agent Leo J. Keenan III defeated Council President Mark Rychwalski and incumbents Russ Vreeland and Jim Kelley in Tuesday's municipal election.

Carroll County Commissioner Michael D. Zimmer, who lives in nearby Eldersburg, said the proposed tax increase and a municipal battle over a basketball hoop turned residents against the incumbents.

Upward candidates win election

http://www.gazette.net/stories/050307/sykenew235039_32321.shtml

The Upward Sykesville slate swept the Sykesville Town Council election Tuesday night.

Leo Keenan, Frank Robert, and Scott Sanzone defeated incumbents Jim Kelley, Mark Rychwalski, and Russell Vreeland.

Upward Sykesville formed to bring about change in town. Its members wanted to create a more open government, increase fiscal responsibility and promote economic development.

City targets guns

Mayor outlines initiative to cut back violence by reducing illegal firearms

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-te.md.ci.guns03may03,0,3581796.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

Contending that Baltimore's struggle against violence needs to refocus on illegal guns, Mayor Sheila Dixon laid out yesterday a series of initiatives aimed at reducing the number of weapons on the city's streets.

"We're going to have to curb the violence in this city by going after these illegal guns," Dixon said. "I don't know how more plain and simple I can make it."

Mayor Dixon Taking Aim At Guns

http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=57261

Mayor Sheila Dixon, saying the city's fight against violence must emphasize eliminating illegal guns, announced plans Wednesday to reduce the number of weapons on city streets.

Standing among some 300 sawed-off shotguns, revolvers and semiautomatic handguns seized last month, Dixon urged the re-establishment of a police gun unit to trace illegal weapons to their sellers; forcing city residents convicted of gun offenses to register with police, and tracking information on gun arrests, convictions and sentences.

National News

Talks on war compromise open

White House, Congress pick their negotiators

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-warvotestory0503,0,2941434.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines

The House failed yesterday to override President Bush's veto of an Iraq funding bill that included a timetable for withdrawal of combat troops. The White House and Congress began talks on a compromise. Congressional leaders from both parties emerged with great optimism from an afternoon meeting with Bush but with few details on what sort of agreement they expect to reach.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, called the meeting "positive." Her Republican counterpart, Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, said it was "very productive," reporting no tense moments.

Members of the Maryland delegation voted yesterday as they had on the original bill. Republican Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest joined Democratic Reps. Elijah E. Cummings, Steny H. Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Chris Van Hollen and Albert R. Wynn in voting for the override. Republican Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett voted against.

Gilchrest discusses country's needs with Iraqi parliamentarian

http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/NEWS01/705030380/1002

On the same day the White House returned a vetoed Iraq Appropriations funding bill including a timeline for U.S. troop withdrawal, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, R-1st-Md., met with an Iraqi parliamentarian to hear what the country needs to move forward.

On Wednesday morning, Gilchrest, a former Marine and Vietnam veteran, met Mohammed Al Dynee, an elected member of the parliament with the National Dialogue Front party. Al Dynee supports replacing American troops with Iraqi troops in Baghdad, but he understands that can't happen tomorrow, Gilchrest said.

"America's goal is to continue to train. America's goal is to support a government in Iraq that treats all religious groups the same, equally distributes oil wealth and brings the Baath party back," Gilchrest said, referring to shared goals between him and Al Dynee.

Hearing on Md. Child's Death Explores Dearth of Dental Care

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/02/AR2007050202539.html

The case of Deamonte Driver, the 12-year-old Maryland boy who died because of a dental infection, sparked a wide-ranging hearing on Capitol Hill yesterday as lawmakers delved into the difficulties the poor face in getting access to dental treatment.

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), chairman of a subcommittee looking into gaps in Medicaid coverage, had his staff call dentists on a list available to the mother of the Prince George's boy who died Feb. 25 of an infection that began with an abscessed tooth and spread to his brain.

Deamonte's death drew national attention to the problems of those without access to dental care, prompting calls for change. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) has co-sponsored a bill that would provide millions in federal dollars to increase dental care for the poor.

A large photo of the boy gazed down from two large screens, as his story was interwoven throughout much of the hearing.

"With all the resources available to us, how did we so thoroughly fail this little boy?" asked Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.).

Residents protest war, Bush, veto

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyID=59680

End the war now! Friends for Peace! War is not the answer! Bring the troops home! Impeach Cheney, then Bush!

Those are just a sampling of the signs that were held up during a rally at the corner of Market and Patrick streets Wednesday evening to protest the war in Iraq and President Bush's recent veto of a bill that would have set a timeline to bring the troops home.

About 100 people turned out, waving signs, banging drums and bells, flashing the peace sign, and chanting, "No more war!"

President Bush Meets With Bipartisan Congressional Leaders To Work Toward "Common Ground" On Emergency War Spending Bill. "The House failed Wednesday to override President Bush's veto of an Iraq funding bill that included a timetable for withdrawal of combat troops. The White House and Congress began talks on a compromise. ... Bush, who exercised only the second veto of his presidency in rejecting the war-spending bill Tuesday, turned more conciliatory Wednesday: 'Yesterday was a day that highlighted differences,' he said at the start of his meeting with congressional leaders. 'Today is a day where we can work together to find common ground.' ... The president's point men in the negotiations will be his chief of staff, Josh Bolten; his national security adviser, Steve Hadley; and his budget director, Rob Portman." (Jim Tankersley and Mark Silva, "Talks On Iraq War Compromise Open," Chicago Tribune, 5/3/07)

In A Speech To The Associated General Contractors Of America, President Bush Says "I Strongly Believe It's In Our National Interest To Stay In The Fight" In Iraq. "President Bush on Wednesday declared al-Qaida 'public enemy No. 1 in Iraq,' placing increasing emphasis on the terror network forever associated with the deadliest attack in U.S. history. ... 'For America, the decision we face in Iraq is not whether we ought to take sides in a civil war, it's whether we stay in the fight against the same international terrorist network that atta cked us on 9/11,' Bush said. 'I strongly believe it's in our national interest to stay in the fight.'...'The recent attacks are not the revenge killings that some have called a civil war,' Bush told the Associated General Contractors of America. 'They are a systematic assault on the entire nation. Al-Qaida is public enemy No. 1 in Iraq.'" (Ben Feller, "Bush Says Al-Qaida Is Top Enemy In Iraq," The Associated Press, 5/2 /07)

U.S. Ambassador To Iraq Ryan Crocker Says Threats Of A U.S. Pullout Hurt The Process Of Iraqi Reconciliation. "As Congress considers next steps on Iraq War funding, it ought to heed the warning of the U.S. ambassador there: Giving Iraqis the idea that Americans are leaving the scene hurts not helps the slow process of Iraqi reconciliation. 'The longer and louder the debate gets' in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Ryan Crocker said in a telephone interview from Baghdad, 'the more danger there is that Iraqis will conclude that we are going,' leading to 'a hardening of attitudes' among sectarian factions. ... 'It is one thing when the administration says our patience is not unlimited. When you have Congress talking about timetables, withdrawal, cutting off funds, "the war is lost," etc., I think you move from useful pressure to where it convinces them we are leaving.'" (Morton M. Kondracke, "U.S. Ambassador Calls For 'Strategic Patience' On Iraq," Roll Call, 5/3/07)

Sunni Muslim Sheikhs Join U.S. In Fighting Al Qaeda. "Like dominoes, tribes reeling from a campaign of killing and intimidation by Al Qaeda have been joining, one by one, the US-led fight against Al Qaeda in Iraq in this Sunni Arab province. Last month, US Gen. David Petraeus told Congress that violence was down significantly here and that the tribes were key to the transformation. ... But winning over the Bu-Fahed tribe was a coup. It had been one of Al Qaeda's staunchest supporters, and traces its lineage to the birthplace of the puritan form of Sunni Isl am known as Wahhabism in the Saudi Arabian province of Najd. ... Anbar's provincial seat, Ramadi, which Al Qaeda declared in October to be the capital of its so-called Islamic state in Iraq, is now firmly in the grips of US and Iraqi forces." (Sam Dagher, "Sunni Muslim Sheikhs Join US In Fighting Al Qaeda," Christian Science Monitor, 5/3/07)

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